The Creative Use of Microcomputer Software

Abstract

The microcomputer has been with us for just ten years. (Incidentally, I prefer the term microcomputer to personal computer because personal computer becomes confused with the specific IBM – and clone – offering; micro‐computer correctly includes all manifestations, including the wonderful Apple range. That has got the definition over with, and it shows my prejudice!) The growth of the micro (I will use the shorter form from now on) has been rapid – both in terms of its penetration into all our offices and homes, and in terms of the growth of its power. The micro now does what it used to take a whole machine room full of mainframe to do a short while ago (although it still has its limitations, compared with mainframes that were and are designed with very fast, high capacity input‐output processes). The growth in terms of market penetration has been fuelled by two major application areas – word processors and spreadsheets.

Citation

Baines, A. (1994), "The Creative Use of Microcomputer Software", Work Study, Vol. 43 No. 5, pp. 25-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000004006